Fluid fuel burner ignition system



y 1951 A. J. TURPIN ET AL 2,562,834

FLUID FUEL BURNER IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Aug. 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTORS A L EXA N0 5/? d TUEP/N mvo MEL w/wl PAR/(El? ,4 TTORNEY July31, 1951 A. J. TURPIN ET AL 2,562,834

FLUID FUEL BURNER IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Aug. 5, 194? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR5 A LEXANDER (A Tuep/n/ AND Ma w/w/ P/m/rm July 31, 1951 A. J.TURPlN ET AL 2,552,834

FLUID FUEL BURNER IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Aug. 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet f5,4 Tram/Ev.

July 31, 1951 A. J. TU RPIN ET AL FLUID FUEL BURNER IGNITION SYSTEM 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 5, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

2 mm. y 7 E Z} M @w 0 M 1m Wm My, 5 I L 1 A A Patented July 31, T9512,562,834 FLUID FUEL BURNER IGNITION SYSTEM Alexander J. Turpin, StewartManor, and Melvin J. Parker, New York, N. Y., assignors'to Ha'uckManufacturing Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a

corporation of New York ApplicationAugust 5, 1947, Serial N 0. 766,184

4. Claims.

The invention relates to safety provisions for use in connection withthe starting of fluid fuel atomizing burners of the proportioning typeand wherein suitable electrically operated ignition means are utilizedto ignite the atomized fuel discharged by the said burner.

In burners of this nature it is highly'undesirable to effect ignition,or re-ignition should the flame for some reason become extinguishedwhenthe operating member for controlling the volume of discharge ispositioned for maximum capacity or for the delivery of a relativelylarge volume of the atomized fuel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in burners of theaforesaid nature means whereby no supply of .fuel nor ignition of thefuel may be effected until the burner operating handle or the likemember first has been located in a predetermined position correspondinggenerally to a minimum or relatively low volume of atomized fuel asdischarged by the burner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition arrangementwhereby the fuel discharge will be in best condition for promptignition.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatically operatingmeans operatively associated with the fuel supply operating meanswhereby, in the event of the pressure or temperature, developed as aresult of the burner operation, exceeding a predetermined value as wellas the occurrence of other objectionable contingencies, not only willoperation of the burner be discontinued but the said operating memberwill be returned automatically to the starting position of minimum orrelatively low atomized fuel volume.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby theburner operating member will be similarly returned in the event of flamefailure.

In carrying out the invention, a switch of an electrical startingcircuit is associated with a part movable with the burner operatingmember of the proportioning burner, said switch being included incircuit with electrical igniter means, such as a spark plug, foreffecting then the ignition of atomized fuel discharged by the burner asby manually closing the ignition circuit. Actuation of the includedelectric switch, however, may not take place until an element of thesaid switch is mechanically displaced as a result of movement of aburner operating handle or like member to set the burner to a positioncorresponding substantially to minimum discharge. A sleeve or likemember movable with the said operating V 2 handle may to this end beprovided with aprojection or cam element which then engages, forexample, one end of a flat spring in turn having a portion-designed tobear against a movableelement of the switch, such as a plunger. Thelatter when pushed inwardly under actuation of the operatinghandle,serves to bring the switch elements into contact; and, when theengagement with the-end of the flat spring terminates, serves tocausethe same to separate.

The electrical circuit to the igniter means may therefore be completedinitially only when the burner is set, for'example, to discharge aminimum volume of the atomized fuel. This condition of relatively lowvolume of atomi'zedfuel assures more likely contact of the said fuelWith'the starting electrodes of the igniter means since the form of-thedischarge coming from the burner will, under these conditions, bebroader than when the full maximum volume is discharged. Furthermore,under these conditions of relatively small volume of discharge, minimumconcussion effects prevail and starting is more safely and readily to beaccomplished.

As soon as ignition takes place, the burner flame may be adjusted,either manually or automatically, to the desired character for runningoperation by movement of the operating handlev accordingly. This willinterrupt the circuit at the switch since the engagement of theprojection With the offset spring portion has terminated; and provisionis made to by-pass upon ignition the said switch with respect to thepower supply for ignition, etc., until the flame is extiguished.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a burner unit equipped with the novelsafety starting means and with oil control portion removed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the burner and installedswitchand shows the oper ating handle of the burner both in the startingposition and in an intermediate, operation position and with oil controlportion removed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, on an enlarged scale and partlyin longitudinal section, of the proportioning burner with attachedswitch mechanism and control therefor.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the ignition and fuel control circuits ascontrolled by the operation of the burner operating handle.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a burner unit equipped with the novelstarting means but as designed for automatic operation afterdnitialmanual actuation of a starting switch or the like.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the operating circuits of the automaticburner control arrangement disclosed in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive,the burner is indicated at It! and is of the proportioning type such asthe burner set forth in U. S. Letters Patent #2,219,119 and #2290385,assigned to applicants assignee, adjustment for discharge of differentvolumes of atomized fuel being effected manually by means of anoperating member such as the handle or arm Fuel for atomization in theburner is introduced through the supply pipe l2 passing through a filterI3 and pressure regulator l4 before delivery to the burner. The fuel forcombustion is in a fluid condition either as liquid or as a solidsufficiently comminuted to flow freely; and the atomizing medium, suchas air, steam, etc., is introduced within said burner to the fuel, forexample, through the inlet |5-all of which is well understood and formsno particular part of the present invention.

In accordance with the invention, provision is made whereby the supplyof fuel may not be effected nor the same discharged from the burneruntil the ignition means, such as the electrical spark producing meansl6, have been activated. These derive power from a source as the mainsH, and the intermediate transformer l8, but not unless the handle I isinitially in substantially its position for minimum discharge from theburner of atomized fuel-the position indicated in full lines, Figs. 1and 2. Thus, there is associated with the burner a switch meansincluding the two normally separated contacts 2| and 22, Fig. 4,suitably encased and which are designed to be brought into contact,preferably mechanically, through movement of the operating handle II ina direction to decrease the volume of atomized discharge and preferablyto its position of minimum volume.

To this end, the sleeve 23 carries a circumferential projection orcamming element 24 to be angularly displaced in accordance with theadjustment of said handle angularly. The said projection is adapted toengage and ride over a free end portion of the outer surface of a flatspring element 25 which is attached at the opposite end to the burnercasing to rock about a stud 26 or the like. The arrangement is such thatas the operating handle approaches its position for minimum volume ofdischarge, as indicated by the full line position, Fig. 2 of thedrawings, engagement is effected between the elements 24 and 25 to rockthe said spring about the stud 26 to raise it and bring a radiallyoffset portion 21 thereof into contact with a brush or, preferably, areciprocable plunger 28 or like element springurged toward sleeve 23 andoperative to bring the contacts 2| and 22 together to close at thispoint an electrical circuit 29 for energization of the isnition means,such as the sparking points l6 and a solenoid-controlled fuel valve 3 I.Movement of the handle II in the opposite direction, which serves toincrease the volume of discharge from the burner, will eventuallyinterrupt this engagement of spring portion 21 with plunger 28, thespring portion 25 then riding directly over the periphery of the sleeve,as indicated in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2.

At the same time that the ignition is effected, the solenoid-controlledfuel valve 3| is actuated to admit fuel to the burner, the circuit tosaid solenoid being connected in parallel with the cir- 4 cult to theignition means. Means are provided, also, to by-pass the switch 20 tomaintain the flame when the operating arm II is moved from the lowposition. Thus a flame-activated photoelectric cell 32 and relay 33operate to by-pass at the relay contacts 34 said switch 20 when therelay is energized, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth inconnection with the completely automatic control, shown in Figs. 5 and6.

Operation of the switch elements in conjunc tion with movement of theburner operating handle may, of course, be effected automatically andcoordinated with one or more control mechanisms such as may be utilizedin connection with the maintenance of a predetermined temperature ofcombustion, prevention of the development of excessive pressure in aboiler fired by the burner, low water level of boiler, and the controlof fuel supply. etc. In such combination control, etc., provision ismade to return automatically the operating handle to its low dischargevolume position especially in case of extinguishment of the burner flameso that reignition may be effected under the proper conditions merely bymomentarily closing a starting switch included in the power circuit tothe ignition means.

Thus, reference being had to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, theoperating handle 35 of the burner 36 is linked to the shaft 31 of aservoor like motor under control of various conditions as may bedesired. In the particular embodiment shown, the reversible motor is ofthe automatic maximum-minimum position type, although it may be of thefloating control type, whereby to maintain a more or less constantboiler pressure through automatic adjustment of the burner handle insupplying atomized fuel.

As indicated, the motor is controlled through suitable windings from apair of contacts 40, 4| between which is designed to oscillate acontactmaking, ground-connection arm 42 to engage alternatively therespective contacts 40 and 4|. The arm 42 is actuated under theinfluence of, for example, the temperature prevailing in the spaceheated by the burner, as is well understood in the art, for energizingthe motor windings in accordance with the required direction of rotationfor moving control arm 35 of the burner. Power for operation of themotor is derived through a lead 45 connected to the ungrounded lead ofthe mains 46 of a source of electrical energythe other, preferably,being grounded. The contact-making arm 42 is maintained normally in aposition to engage one of the contacts 40 and 4|, that is to say, theone controlling the motor Winding for returning the burner control armto its low discharge volume position, thus setting the contacts 41controlled by movement of said arm for starting of the burner operation.This action also serves to energize a solenoid 49 or like means includedin parallel with the starting circuit, and in turn controlling thesupply of fuel as through a supply valve 50. In this circuit, also, andin ad- Vance of the starting contacts 41, are one or more controlledswitches 5|, 52 operating, for example, to interrupt the power supply tosaid contacts 41 when the water level of a boiler (not shown) operatedby the burner falls below a predetermined level, in the case of switch5|, or the pressure prevailing in the boiler becomes excessive, in thecase of switch 52. It will thus be impossible to restart the burneruntil these conditions have been remedied.

With all conditions met, there will be energized a transformer 53 whosesecondaries produce sparks at the points 54 located in proximity to theburner discharge for igniting the same to provide a flame.

As soon as the flame is produced, a flame-controlled relay 55 operatingin manner well understood through a photoelectric cell 56 exposed to theburner flame, is subject to the flame condition of the burner; andbecomes effective to energize the relay having two pairs of contacts.The one pair includes a dead contact 58 and a contact 59, the latterbeing connected to the power lead of mains 46 and ahead of switchcontacts 41 and when contacted by the relay arm 60 serves to bypass saidswitch contacts 41 so that so long as suitable flame conditions prevail,these are without effect on the burner operation, the burner operation,however, remaining subject to the controls 5| and 52. The said relay atthe same time it effects the aforesaid by-passing operation, interruptsa grounding connection at the contact 6| through the relay arm 52 whichhad completed a power circuit through lead 63 to one of the windings ofthe motor, viz.: the one designed to return (under control of limitswitch 64) the arm 35 to its position for minimum discharge of theburner, and completes the circuit to ground through a companion contact65 and lead 66 to the temperature-controlled arm 42. When this in turnengages the contact 40, the motor is powered to reverse its direction ofrotation (under control of limit switch 61). It will be noted that withthe relay arm 62 in engagement with contact 65, it will be possible alsofor the motor to operate in the direction to return the burner arm 35since the corresponding winding is connected with contact ll so that,should arm 42 engage this contact, the power circuit through saidwinding will be completed. Thus, in addition to maintaining a desiredpredetermined temperature by means of the automatic positioning of arm42, the burner arm will positively be returned to its position forminimum discharge of atomized fuel upon flame failure which causes therelay 55 to function and restore the respective arms 60 and 62 toposition for starting burner operation.

We claim:

1. In fuel burner apparatus having an atomizing fuel burner with amovable operating member for control of the volume of atomized fueldelivered by the burner, together with electrical igniter means for theatomized fuel and a switch in circuit with said igniter means includinga movable element for efiecting at said switch the closing of thecircuit to the electrical igniter means and the opening of the same:means movable with the movable operating member of the burner adaptedfor engagement with the movable element only when the operating memberis located substantially in position for minimum volume of dischargedatomized fuel to effect closing of the said igniter means circuit;further electrical means and a fuel supply valve operated thereby, saidfurther electrical means being connected in parallel with the electricaligniter means circuit for energization therewith; an additional switchtogether with an actuating coil therefor; means responsive to presenceof combustion of atomized fuel to energize said coil and close saidadditional switch; and a circuit including the coil-controlled switch toby-pass the movable-elementcontrolled switch with respect to theelectrical means.

2. An atomizing fuel burner apparatus according to claim 1, whereinelectric motor means are provided, together with switching means undercontrol of said actuating coil for energizing the electric motor meansto move the operating member to increase or decrease the fuel volumeaccording as the actuating coil is energized or deenergized.

3. An atomizing fuel burner apparatus according to claim 2, whereinmeans are associated with the electric motor means to effect itsoperation respectively in one direction or the other according as thesaid actuating coil is energized or deenergized.

4. An atomizing fuel burner apparatus according to claim 2, whereinmeans responsive to temperatures in a space heated by the burner areprovided to control also the electric motor means and are adapted forconnection in circuit with the coil-controlled switching means.

ALEXANDER J. TURPIN. MELVIN J. PARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,432,464 Jacobsen Oct. 17, 19221,730,830 Shivers Oct. 8, 1929 1,762,868 Kais June 10, 1930 2,117,021Cotea May 10, 1938 2,263,767 Fox Nov. 25, 1941 2,271,903 StuckenholtFeb. 3, 1942 2,457,862 Briskin Jan. 4, 1949

